Brace.



No. 680,931. Patented Aug. 20, l90l. P. F. MAINES.

BRACE.

(Application filed Apr. 5, 1901.)

(No Model.)

lUNllTED stares Parent @rrrcln.

POTTER F. MAINES, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

BHAGE.

SPEGTFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 680,931, dated August 20, 1901. Application filed April 5, 1901. Serial No. 54,427. iNo model.)

To an whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, POTTER F. MAINES, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Braces, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

The invention relates to an improved brace, such as are usually known as ratchetbraces, for turning a wood or metal working tool, the handle of said brace serving to revolve the spindle carrying the tool when moved in one direction and working loosely on said spindle when moved in the reverse direction.

The principal object of my invention is to generally improve and simplify the construction of this class of devices and reduce the cost of manufacture, while at the same time producing a brace which is strong and durable and having no complicated parts which are likely to get out of order.

A further object of inyinvention is to provide a reversible brace which can be readily and quickly adjusted so as to drive the toolholding spindle in either direction-that is, when the handle is moved to the right to drive the spindle to the right or to the left, as may be desired.

With these objects in view the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the various parts, such as hereinafter fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claim made hereto.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar numerals of reference are used to indicate similar parts, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a brace embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an elevation with parts of the body and handle portion broken away to illustrate the position of the interior mechanism when the handle is traveling loosely on the stockspindle. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the position of the parts when the handle is moved in the reverse direction to that of Fig. 2 and the spindle clutched and moving with said handle. Fig. 4c is a crosssectional view taken on the line 4 4: of Fig.

In carrying out my invention I provide a cylindrical stock or spindle 1, having a tapering socket 2 provided in its lower portion, adapted to receive the shank of the drill or other tool to be used. The upper portion of the stock 1 is reduced to form a hollow spindle, as 3, the interior of which is screw-threaded for the reception of a feed-screw such as ordinarily used in devices of this character. In the upper face of the stock 1 I provide a circular recess at, the inner walls of which are formed by the circular spindle 3. This recess l is adapted for the reception of a split ring 5, which loosely fits in said recess, leaving a small space 6 between the two members of the split ring on one side, as illustrated in Fig. 4: of the drawings.

The operating-lever 7 is provided on its end with a cylindrical sleeve 8, having a central aperture which fits loosely over the spindle 3, so that it may turn on the said spindle. This lever is held in position on the spindle by means of a set-screw 9, which passes through the sleeve 8 and enters a circular recess provided in the spindle, as illustrated in Fig. 1 of thedrawings. On the under surface of the sleeve 8 is cut a rectangular recess 10, which is of a width about equal to the width of the annular recess 4, provided in the stock. Fitting in the space 6 between the two members of the split ring 5 is a small rectangular lever 11., which extends up into the recess 10, as clearly illustrated in the drawings, and located in the said recess 10 on one side of the lever 11 is a wedge 12, having an inclined wall adapted to bear against one side of the lever 11. The other side of the recess 10 is provided with a vertical wall which bears against the opposite side of the lever 11.

In operation, when the handle-lever 7 is turned, say, in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 2, the vertical wall 13 of the recess 10 will bear against the side of the small lever 11 and move the same, together with split ring 5, thus allowing the sleeve 8 to move on the spindle 3 without revolving the stock 1. When the handle-lever 7 is moved in the opposite direction, as in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 3, the inclined wall 14 of the wedge 12 will strike against the lever 11 and tilt the same, thus causing the sides of said lever to bear against Ice the upper edge of one member of the split her of the said split ring, and thereby causing the said ring to expand and come into frictional contact with the outer walls of the annular groove 4, and thus causing the stock 1 to turn with the handle-lever, and thereby actuate the tool carried by the said stock. Upon the reverse movement of the lever 7 the sleeve 8 will move loosely on the spindle 3 and the stock will remain stationary. If it should be desired to reverse the movement of the device, the-handle 7 is partly removed from its spindle and wedge 12 removed from the recess 10 and placed against the opposite Wall of said recess to that shown in the drawings, so that the said split ring will be caused to expand and cause frictional contact when the operating-handle is moved in an opposite direction to that above described; This reversible feature is very important and renders the tool more valuable than if it operated in one direction only. This feature is especially advantageous when the device is used as a Wrench for removing or inserting nuts or bolts.

Having thus described my invention, .what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination of the tool-carrying stock, an operating-handle having a head loosely fitting on the upper stock-spindle, a recess, 10, formed on the under face of the head, an annular recess formed in the stock adjacent to the head, a split ring adapted to said recess, a rectangular lever extending between the tWo sections of the ring having its upper end extending in the recess, 10, and a removable wedge, 12, having an inclined wall adapted to bear against the lever and tilt the same when the handle is operated in one direction,

substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 2d day of April, A. D. 1901.

POTTER F. MAINES. Witnesses:

CHARLES H. SPECKMAN, J. HENDERSON. 

